IRIA News

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U.S. defense company Leonardo DRS has introduced a Multi-Purpose Missile Launcher (MPML) designed to enable combat vehicles equipped with existing Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided (TOW) missile systems to fire Israeli-made Spike LR2 anti-tank missiles while retaining compatibility with TOW munitions.

The system is intended to expand the weapons options available to existing and future ground combat platforms without requiring extensive changes to their launcher configurations.

Leonardo DRS unveiled the MPML on October 14, 2026, during the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington, D.C. The company identifies Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and Stryker armored vehicles among the platforms intended to use the launcher, potentially allowing operators to introduce another guided missile capability while retaining existing launcher infrastructure.

Senior Vice President/General Manager of Leonardo DRS Land Systems, Aaron Hankins, said, “MPML gives warfighters a practical path to introduce new anti-armor capability while preserving the flexibility of the systems they already operate.”

Hankins added, “The launcher’s reconfigurable design supports the evolving needs of legacy and future ground combat platforms and the missions they perform.”

The MPML combines a lightweight launcher assembly based on the existing TOW launcher design, adapters for Spike LR2 missiles, and a Common Missile Control Unit (CMCU). These components are designed to provide the mechanical and electronic interfaces required to operate different missile types while allowing crews to reconfigure the system in the field.

Launching at #AUSA2026: Leonardo DRS’ Multi-Purpose Missile Launcher (MPML) expands anti-armor capability across enduring and future combat platforms. MPML enables Soldiers to employ TOW and Spike LR2 missiles today, with a field-reconfigurable path to additional compatible munitions tomorrow. See it at Booth 6341 | Hall DE, Oct. 12–14. #LeonardoDRS #OwnTheEdge

— Leonardo DRS (@LeonardoDRSnews) October 12, 2026

MPML Integrates Spike LR2 With Existing TOW Launch Systems

The MPML is designed to connect the Spike LR2 missile system with vehicle-mounted TOW launchers through a combination of launcher hardware, missile adapters, and electronic controls. Rather than replacing the entire weapon installation, the system uses a modified launcher arrangement intended to accommodate the different physical and operational requirements of the two missile types.

A central component is the Spike LR2 adapter assembly, which provides the mechanical interface between the missile container and the launcher. The system also incorporates a Common Missile Control Unit that supports the electronics and software needed for missile selection, firing, and guidance. These components are intended to bridge the differences between the legacy TOW installation and the Spike LR2 system.

Although the launcher retains compatibility with TOW missiles, switching between missile types requires the appropriate configuration and interfaces. Leonardo DRS says the MPML is field-reconfigurable, allowing operators to change between compatible munitions without special tools. This could provide commanders with greater flexibility when preparing vehicles for missions involving different target types and engagement requirements.

The integration approach also seeks to limit changes to the vehicle itself. The launcher is intended to use existing platform infrastructure, although missile-specific electronic connections and control functions must still be accommodated. The extent of the required work will depend on the vehicle configuration and the integration requirements of each platform.

The concept has a development history extending beyond the latest announcement. During Project Convergence 2021, an earlier adapter configuration was reportedly used to fire two Spike missiles from a TOW launcher, with both missiles hitting their intended targets. Leonardo DRS and Rafael USA have since advanced the integration solution, with the MPML presented at AUSA 2026 as a more developed approach to combining the two missile systems.

Spike LR2 Expands Anti-Armor Engagement Options

The Spike LR2 is an anti-tank guided missile developed by Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. It uses an electro-optical seeker and supports different engagement modes, providing capabilities that differ from the traditional TOW system. Its guidance architecture is designed to give operators additional options for engaging targets, including situations in which maintaining direct observation throughout an engagement may be difficult.

Rafael lists a maximum range of approximately 5.5 kilometers for the ground-launched Spike LR2. Its electro-optical seeker provides imagery during flight, while its different guidance modes give operators flexibility in observing and engaging targets. Depending on the selected mode and operating conditions, the missile can support engagements that do not require the operator to maintain continuous direct observation of the target throughout the flight.

For Bradley and other compatible vehicle crews, the potential benefit is access to another guided missile without replacing the entire launcher installation. The ability to select between TOW and Spike LR2 could allow units to tailor their weapons configuration to the mission, target, and availability of munitions. However, the practical advantages will depend on the missile configuration, vehicle integration, and the requirements of individual operations.

Introducing Spike LR2 also brings additional training and support requirements. Crews would need to understand the missile’s guidance modes, engagement procedures, and associated controls, while maintenance personnel would require the necessary equipment and technical training.

Open Architecture Supports Future Weapons Integration

Leonardo DRS says the MPML uses an open-systems architecture intended to support the future integration of compatible loitering munitions and other missile systems. This approach could allow the launcher to evolve as new weapons become available, reducing the need to replace the entire installation whenever a different compatible munition is introduced.

The company’s emphasis on reconfiguration reflects a broader modernization challenge facing armed forces that operate large fleets of existing combat vehicles. Replacing entire vehicle fleets or developing completely new weapon installations can require substantial investment and lengthy integration programs. Adapting established launcher systems may offer an alternative route to introducing new capabilities while retaining some existing equipment and infrastructure.

For vehicles such as the Bradley and Stryker, the potential value lies in adding missile options without undertaking extensive launcher replacement. However, compatibility with a particular vehicle does not automatically establish that the system is ready for operational use. Each application may require technical integration, testing, safety assessments, qualification, and training before it can be adopted by military units.

The MPML could also provide a route for future weapons integration as missile requirements and available technologies evolve. Its modular approach is intended to accommodate compatible systems, but the company’s stated growth plans should not be interpreted as confirmation that additional munitions have already been integrated or qualified.

The announcement does not confirm a procurement order or operational deployment of the MPML on Bradley or Stryker vehicles. Further testing, qualification, and acquisition decisions will determine whether the launcher enters service and how widely it may be adopted.